Buying from a contractor means trusting someone. Trusting they will build what you expect. Trusting they understand what you expect . How can a homeowner be comfortable they are choosing the right contractor for their project? How do they know who to trust? This is the third article in a blog series on how to select the right contractor.

In two previous blogs I wrote about evaluating a contractors background and experience and how to insure the contractor builds what you want and expect. In this blog I will share some thoughts on how a contractor can manage your project so it is built well and construction runs smoothly.

Project management is important in most businesses but it is crucial in construction. There are a lot of balls to juggle. Building department requirements, the carpenters, coordinating multiple crews, trash removal, material showing up on time, ensuring timely inspections to avoid delaying job progress, protecting driveways from dumpster damage, ensuring the correct fasteners are being used in the correct locations, and that is just a few examples. The most important detail is clearly communicating the progress of the job in a timely manner to the homeowner. Understanding how a contractor manages the multiple issues that can arise during the course of the job should be important in deciding who you want to hire for your project.

People and systems can make or break the job. In our organization, we manage each deck, patio, or screen porch project with a system called the Job Progress Methodology. This elaborate checklist (over 200 items currently) and four supporting guides for the field personnel keep us on track to ensure a smooth running project. We use this tool in conjunction with a series of construction standards in our Master File. This is a collection of drawings that clearly reflects how each detail of the project will be built.

Knowing who the crews are and how they are managed are important factors in the end result of the project. Finding tradesmen that are skilled, reliable, and trustworthy can be challenging. Over the years I have been shocked by the lack of skill that some carpenters bring to their work after presenting themselves well in the interview. We issue a written test to weed out many people up front. Asking for their approval to conduct a background check causes even more to drop out. With new crews, our Project Manager is on site daily for the first two to three weeks to insure they are building to our expectations and acting appropriately at our client’s homes. Some trades require proper licensing such as roofers, electricians, and plumbers in Illinois. We check that all insurances are up to date and that all our subs are properly licensed.

If you want full service, the contractor should handle all issues related to securing the permit and the inspections. This includes contacting the utility locater service, JULIE in Illinois, to insure no lines are hit when digging is involved. It should also include providing any drawings and information your Home Owners Association might require. Our company provides all of these services when we build Outdoor Living projects such as decks, screen porches, or pergolas.

How a contractor organizes it’s work, before and during the construction, is critical for success in your project. It is critical if you want comfort your expectations will be met and the job runs as smoothly as possible. If material or crews occur in the wrong order, it becomes difficult to undo the construction, making this organization critical. Of course even a quality company that makes every effort to be organized will still have mistakes, but they need to step up and make them right for you! We will talk more about this in our next blog.

See you in the outdoors.

 Buying from a contractor means trusting someone.  Trusting they will build what you expect.  Trusting they understand what you expect. How can a homeowner be comfortable they are choosing the right contractor for their project?  How do they know who to trust? This is the second article in a blog series on how to select the right contractor.

 In my last blog I wrote about evaluating a contractor’s background and experience.  In this blog I would like to share some thoughts on how to evaluate the contractors approach to understanding your needs.  In my business we call it “design”, but really it’s about asking questions, listening, and understanding the priorities of the client.  Not all construction projects involve “design” but all of them include understanding the client’s priorities.   In our outdoor living business we strive to offer designs that match our client’s needs and wants.

 To insure that we understand a client’s priorities and, just as important, they understand what we are proposing to build, we provide a clear drawing with detailed specifics related to their project.   Every contractor should give clear written details of your project.  Of course, a written agreement and warranty are important as well.

 Project specifications should include details regarding materials and finishing information. Material information should clarify the quality of the material, if appropriate.  For example, we note number 1 grade decking and stainless steel screws for our deck projects.  Any items the client will be responsible for should also be included in the project specifications.  For example, when we build screen porches, we note that the client buys the ceiling fan which we install. 

 In some cases it’s valuable to visualize your project in three-dimensional photo realistic drawings.  When we build decks, patios, screen porches, sunrooms, or pergolas for shade, we offer a plan view (view from above) of the project.  If a client desires, we can offer custom three-dimensional drawings of their home with our proposed project shown on an image of their home.   This type of design work takes more time so we charge a small project retainer, which applies to the price of the project.

 Of course price is an important part of any proposal.  Some contractors give estimates.  Estimates can change and some contractors purposefully give a low price that they plan to increase once the project begins.  We guarantee that the that we agree will not to change unless the project is changed by the client or something unforeseen occurs.  We define unforeseen as not visually present or a requirement by a building department outside of those noted in the building code.

 In a future blog I will discuss project management and services offered by contractors.

 See you in the outdoors.

Buying from a contractor means trusting someone. Trusting they will build what you expect. Trusting they understand what you expect . How can a homeowner be comfortable they are choosing the right contractor for their project? How do they know who to trust? In the next few blogs I am going to share some ideas that may help homeowners know what to look for and how to select the right contractor.

The first area to consider is experience and background. How much experience does the contractor have with your type of project? Some contractors try to do all types of construction but there are subtle differences in materials and design that affect the outcome of each construction project. For example, our company specializes in outdoor living projects; decks, screen porches, sunrooms, patios, and pergolas for shade. we know all the details to make these types of projects fit your home perfectly. However, I know the basics to remodel a kitchen; but if we did one there would be a dozen little issues that just did not look right. If a company has done at least 100 projects in a category they have probably learned the nuances that insure the project will look right.

What is their background & history? The Better Business Bureau or Angies List are great places to learn how the contractor treats other clients. Speaking to references can tell you a great deal, especially if the contractor does not have a list ready and organized. This is a question we are asked all the time. If a contractor is not prepared for it, then how well will they prepare for your project?

How quickly they response as well as the quality of their response are key indicators of how they will perform for your project. Are they on time? Do they ask questions to help you avoid mistakes? Do they listen to you and understand your priorities? Do they commit to follow up and more importantly do they fulfill those commitments? If the contractor falls short before you sign a contract, they will certainly fall short during the project. Everyone is at their best when they are trying to make a good impression and earn your business.

In an upcoming blog I will talk about the design process and how to insure that the details you expect are included in your project.

See you in the outdoors.

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See you in the outdoors.

Our Sanctuary

Oh how I miss my Screen Porch!

In 2005 I designed and built my families screen porch and deck at our home near Barrington Hills, IL. We loved the new outdoor spaces we created and the new Screen Porch was the perfect way to be outside, safe from rain and bugs. We especially enjoyed the porch on those warm summer evenings, listening
to the light rain outside.   Without question, fall was my favorite season on the porch. In the fall of 2005,  I kicked back in a big cushy chair with my feet up on the ottoman and watched lots of football and the White Sox win the World Series. It was very exciting,  though at heart I will always be a Tiger fan.

Those afternoons with a cold beverage, my fridge a few steps away, and the games on t.v. were more relaxing than any vacation I have ever taken. Almost as peaceful were the mornings when my wife and I would enjoy our coffee and watch our two young children play in that room. That Fall stands out so strong in my memory because shortly after, we moved to a new home and left our Screen Porch behind. Each new screen porch we build for clients reminds me of those truly relaxing afternoons. I am always a little jealous of my clients and their new porches. Every so often I drive by our old house and look longingly at that room. It is satisfying to know that the new owner is enjoying the space with his family.

Someday I will design and build a new screen room, and It will provide  that same great stay at home vacation, but until then I will live vicariously through our clients.

 If you want to see more ideas,  check out the Screen Porch gallery on our website. Maybe someday we can design & build you a new sanctuary for your summer evenings and fall afternoons.

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 5,800 times in 2010. That’s about 14 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 16 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 52 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 22mb. That’s about 4 pictures per month.

The busiest day of the year was August 30th with 39 views. The most popular post that day was Outdoor kitchens perfected.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were northern-chicagoland.archadeck.com, chicagoland.archadeck.com, facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, and search.aol.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for outdoor kitchens, outdoor kitchen designs, outdoor kitchen, outdoor kitchen plans, and outdoor patio kitchens.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Outdoor kitchens perfected February 2010

Turn your house outside in with a new screened porch February 2010

Rehabing your deck (replace decking and reuse the structure) January 2010
2 comments

Decks, still a good investement! February 2010

We designed this Libertyville, IL project to meet the young families’ needs and the flow of their yard.  Based upon the yard grading it would have been easier to do a deck but they liked the look of a paver patio. 

They wanted a space for six to dine & grill and a level for a couple of lounge chairs.   The design also needed to create a transition from the house to the backyard, especially towards the kids swing set.  As we considered their priorities and the grade of the yard it became obvious to create a series of paver patio levels.  Patio levels that provide the spaces desired and followed the drop in the back yard to meet the lowest grade where the swing set was. 

By providing a 3 dimensional drawing of the design on their home the client was able to visualize our recommendation.   Together we reviewed two design ideas and made edits to get the exact design they wanted on the back of their home.   Finding the best plan for our clients is the central focus of our design process.     

As you can see the result was a great new outdoor living space!

Over the years we have done a couple of these projects but in 2010 we built three of these porches. These rooms combine two of the most popular outdoor structures. Interest in brick patios and hardscapes grows each year. The more natural look, low maintenance qualities, and designs that flow into the backyard makes paver patios very desirable. With mosquitos, bees, and other bugs becoming such a pest the classic screen porch is as popular as ever. They offer the best of the outdoors while protecting your family from pests, rain, & too much sun.

Traditionally screen porches have deck floors but by building the room with foundational support for each roof post we can do the floor in patio bricks. Obviously, the screen porch needs to be at / or near ground level to include brick. The look is compelling and unique. These screen porch / patios flows with your backyard, especially if the patio floor is inside the porch as well as outside the room.

Archadeck of Chicagoland has been combining paver patios with our carpentry projects; screen porches, decks, gazebos, and pergolas, for several years. Few companies do both brick and carpentry. We started working with both materials primarily because of our desire to create unique and exciting outdoor spaces that best meet our clients priorities. Usually this option is about aesthetics but sometimes there is no room to frame a deck and brick is simply the most practical option. Personally, I love the look that combines wood (or composite) & stone. If we can get a fire-place or water feature in the design it’s even more exciting.

It might be 9 degrees outside but I am still dreaming of getting outdoors. Putting up the Christmas lights just didn’t cut it.

See you in the backyard!

A simple outdoor kitchen design might include a good gas grill, counter space for preparation and drinks, and some storage for utensils and gear. This island creates a great location for hanging, cooking, and maybe even eating if we add some bar stools.

We create simple as well as elaborate outdoor kitchens, check out some previous projects at our site http://www.chicagoland.archadeck.com/ and try to keep warm, it’s not fit for man nor beast out there. Unless of course you have an outdoor kitchen set up to keep you warm and cozy.

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